A special thanks to our good friends at CURIO-PRESS for sponsoring this episode of This ORGANIZED Life! They have an incredible line of personalized stationery, lists & notepads. Visit CURIO-PRESS.COM and enter the code ORGANIZED at checkout to receive 15% your entire order *Please shop local when you can, small businesses have been greatly impacted by COVID-19 and appreciate your support. For sponsorship inquiries and collaborations click here Hi friends! Parents of school-aged kids, you are in for a treat today.  Joining me (via zoom) is Dr. Amanda Benolken, Supervisor of Educational Technology and Innovation at New Hope-Solebury School District.  Throughout the past 12 years, Amanda has held positions as an elementary teacher and instructional coach, and in addition to her “day job,” she currently serves as an adjunct professor at Gwynedd Mercy University teaching graduate leadership and curriculum courses and a dissertation advisor. So needless to say Amanda is no joke. In addition to her impressive resume, Amanda is mom to a 4th grader, so she is navigating DISTANCE LEARNING as both administrator and parent. So guess what folks? She is in the weeds with the rest of us! I invited Amanda to join me, to help provide some direction, and share some insight for parents who are feeling overwhelmed, and underprepared to take on the role as teacher. Amanda also shares how she is juggling work and parenting in her own home while we’re under quarantine. During our conversation we talk about things like: What is a reasonable expectation for how long kids should be focused on academics each day? Advice for parents who are panicked that their educational development is resting on their shoulders Overcoming the technology hurdle if you’re unfamiliar with platforms like Zoom, Google Classroom, or Canvas We also talked about non-traditional learning opportunities, like cooking a meal or writing letters and how they MATTER! We wrap up with some resources for parents and students to help add extra support outside of the classroom, so be sure to check out the links at the bottom of the show notes. This is uncharted territory for everyone, and  rest assured that your kids education WILL be ok. Stay healthy. Stay safe. xo - Laurie  Please support us! SUBSCRIBE to TOL to have new episodes downloaded each week! REVIEW.  Social influence is the most impactful way to help others find our show! Struggling with Clutter?  Click HERE to take our FREE clutter quiz! Stop feeling like a Hot Mess! HOT MESS: A Practical Guide to Getting Organized is my witty little survival guide that helps you get to the root of your clutter. Learn about the 3 types of clutter, Physical, Emotional, and Calendar, along with how to avoid the 5 Clutter Pitfalls.  Now is the time to reclaim time, find freedom, and feel empowered from the “stuff” that is holding you back. Available on amazon, barnes & noble or wherever books are sold. Links Mentioned in this Episode Khanacademy.org | Commonsensemedia.org Links For High School Juniors  Scoir.com | Collegeboard.org Suggested Vetted SitesS, Tools & App For This School Closure Period Wide Open School Mystery Science America’s Test Kitchen Kids Duolingo Some Of Amanda’s Favorites Scholastic Learn at Home Storyline Philadelphia Zoo at 2 Virtual Museum Tours Visit the Musee d’Orsay Visit the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum Visit the National Gallery of Art Promo Codes for You! 15% OFF CURIO-PRESS WITH CODE “ORGANIZED” | 10% OFF YOUR COLOR GURU WITH CODE “ORGANIZEDLIFE” Connect with Amanda TWITTER Connect with Me WEBSITE | FB | IG | PINTEREST